Nancy MacLean, Duke University Professor of History and author of the acclaimed Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of The Radical Right’s Stealth Plan for America will be discussing her book at a public lecture Monday, January 7, 2019, 7-9 pm, at the Krannert Auditorium at Purdue University (rm 140, 403 W. State St, West Lafayette). The lecture and subsequent discussion is free and open to the public.

Sponsors of the lecture include the Committee on Peace Studies, the Departments of English and Political Science, The School of Languages and Cultures, the American Studies Program, and the Purdue Chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP).

In her book, MacLean traces the intellectual development of the neo-liberal right, and its organized connections with wealthy and powerful supporters such as the Koch Brothers, the Cato Institute, and the Heritage Foundation. She argues that selected intellectuals, such as political economist, James Buchanan, have promoted an anti-democratic policy agenda and defenses of this agenda in higher education.

At the chapter meeting tonight, members voted unanimously to pass the following statement regarding the recently flyers posted on Purdue's campus.

CHAPTER STATEMENT

In the 72 hours after a virulent anti-semite killed 11 Jews at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, white nationalists and white supremacists posted flyers on the Purdue campus. Similar leafleting of white supremacist flyers on campus in the past has drawn little comment by the administration, except for those prompted from duress applied by the Purdue community.

Purdue AAUP condemns the appearance of these flyers. In the wake of the tragic Pittsburgh murders, and other acts of racial violence, we recognize that these white supremacist flyers are intended to frighten members of the Purdue community, especially Jews, but also including Muslims, people of color, women, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ people, all of whom have been victims of discrimination and violence by white supremacists.

This evening, at a special meeting, the Purdue University-West Lafayette chapter of AAUP unanimously passed the following resolution about Purdue University Global.

Resolution regarding Purdue University Global

WHEREAS, it is the mission of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) to

advance academic freedom and shared governance; to define fundamental professional values and standards for higher education; to promote the economic security of faculty, academic professionals, graduate students, post‐doctoral fellows, and all those engaged in teaching and research in higher education; to help the higher education community organize to make our goals a reality; and to ensure higher education's contribution to the common good;

WHEREAS, it is the purpose of the Purdue University AAUP Chapter to serve as a faculty voice to advocate for and defend the rights of faculty and students associated with Purdue University;

Inside Higher Education reports today that Purdue Global has dropped the expectation that Purdue Global faculty sign a NDA as part of their terms of employment. However, the expectation that students must forgo their legal rights and agree to undergo forced arbitration instead of bringing Purdue Global to court continues.

We will share a more formal agenda closer to the time, but the current sketch of a plan is to review the chapter bylaws (which I will send out in advance), discuss chapter dues, and figure out both officers and Committee A membership, both of which are in dire need. (I do have one new volunteer for committee A already. :-) ) If you have something else for the agenda that needs to be discussed by the chapter, please let me know as soon as reasonable.

Purdue Global’s NDA states that any work product, including all course materials "or other intellectual property that arises in any part in the course of … employment at Purdue Global, is commissioned and owned by Purdue Global as a work-for-hire and may not be used, duplicated or distributed outside of Purdue Global."

“Asserting ownership over the faculty’s teaching-related materials undermines standard academic practice, violating faculty rights to their own intellectual property as well as their academic freedom,” Scholtz says. “This type of agreement would be unprecedented for a public, non-profit university.”

AAUP Mission

The mission of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) is to advance academic freedom and shared governance; to define fundamental professional values and standards for higher education; to promote the economic security of faculty, academic professionals, graduate students, post‐doctoral fellows, and all those engaged in teaching and research in higher education; to help the higher education community organize to make our goals a reality; and to ensure higher education's contribution to the common good.

Stand Against the Ban

The AAUP strongly opposes Donald Trump's unconstitutional and discriminatory ban on entry into the United States for people from some Muslim-majority countries.

Large numbers of our students and faculty members are affected by administration’s ill-considered executive order, which violates so many American traditions and beliefs. We fear that the abuse of power we are witnessing will wreak havoc on our institutions of higher education.

We call on faculty, students, and all citizens to remain engaged in the struggle for justice on every campus and in every community. We call on all reasonable politicians to oppose against this administration’s discriminatory order. Add your name in solidarity.